Car-spring



(No Model.)

-S. D. TRIPP.

GAR SPRING. No. 358,509. Patented Mar.]1.- P8

Ii I

\ I YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ amino STATES AET QFFIC CAR-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,509, dated March 1, 1887.

' Application filed May 14, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SETH D. TRIPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Oar- Spring, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of springs which act from resistance to compression; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a spring which shall carry with an easy and even motion a pressure which may vary greatly and suddenly; second, to secure a spring which may be constructed in a small space; third, to make a spring which may be repaired easily and cheaply. I attain these objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which--- Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a spring having four plates with a pin through their centers. Fig. 2 is a vertical section and elevation of a spring of four plates inclosed in a cylinder; and Fig. 3 is a spring of six plates, two of which are flat and four concavo-convex, and a pin fixed to the base, a modification of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to like parts in all the drawings.

To construct my invention, I take two or more plates of brass, steel, or similar material having great strength and elasticity, which plates have been formed into a sphero-concavc shape, and pile them so that their centers shall be in line. The best method of construc tion is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but that shown in Fig. 3 may be adopted with less satisfactory results, as the flat plate is not so strong in its resistance to pressure unless made of thicker material. Vant of space may make it necessary to use one or more flat plates. To maintain the plates in their proper position, a hole may be made through the center of each, and through the holes may be fitted a pin, 2), which may have a head or shoulder, d, made to fit the convex top of the upper plate and large enough to secure a good bearingsurface thereon. This pin should enter a hole in the base of the" spring, which hole in this construction, like that in all the plates, should be just large enough to allow free play to the Serial No. 202,157. (No model.)

pin. Another method of securing the plates in position is that of piling them in a cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2, in which method no hole or pin is needed; and yet another is that shown in Fig. 3, in which the pin 1) is set firmly in the base and is without a head, the pressure being applied to the convex top of the upper plate.

It is well to smooth the edges of the concave sides of the plates on the flat side of a grindstone or emerywheel, to obtain a smooth bearing-surface and to lessen any friction in case of unequal expansion of the plates, and it is also well to flatten a little the convex top of the plates to obtain a better bearing-surface. Neither the size, material, shape, degree of convexity, nor thickness of the plates is an essential part of my invention, as these may be varied to suit the circumstances in which the spring is to be placed and the work to be performed; but in all cases the spring must be made of plates which are in form segments of others, except when a fiat circular plate is from necessity used to save room.

There are no car-springs now in use which are satisfactory as to elasticity and durability, except perhaps some which are costly to make and to keep in repair, and which occupy a large space. The rubber spring, which is much used, is quite costly when of good quality, and is very soon destroyed by the grease and dirt which necessarily come in contact with it when in use, and it very soon loses its form and elasticity. Spiral springs are costly, cnmbrous, and incapable of being repaired. My spring costs but little at first, and ii a part is broken it can be replaced at trifling cost and trouble. It occupies but little space, will last a long time, and is not affected by heat or cold. The pressure being applied to the head of the pin or directly to the convex top of the upper plate, the elasticity of the plates distributes the weight to every part of the spring, and all parts yield and rebound in unison, giving that easy uniform elasticity and motion which is so much desired in a carspring.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In-a car-spring, the combination of two or more sphero-concave plates with a pin, frame, substantially as described and shown. 10 substantially as described and shown. 4. A car-spring constructed of two or more 2. In a car-spring, the combination of two sphero-concave plates either inclosed in a cylor more elastic plates, one of which is flat and inder or frame or held in position by a central the rest sphero concave, as described and pin, substantially as described and shown.

shown. SETH D. TRIPP.

3. In a ear-spring, the combination, of two Witnesses:

or more elastic plates, at part at least being I CHAS. ALLEN TABER,

sphero-concave, with a cylinder or outside CHARLES G. DYER. 

